Next Tuesday.

I thank my Fine Gael colleagues for their work on this Seanad Private Members’ motion, which we hope is as broad and encompassing as possible in condemning the unacceptable aggression by Russia on Ukraine’s sovereign territory. There is no question that this invasion is an unprovoked attack on Ukraine's people and an outrageous and immoral breach of the most fundamental and basic principles of international law. The atrocities that we have seen throughout Ukraine, not least in Mariupol, are undeniably war crimes. I…

I want to put on record my thanks to the Minister for Transport for the funding of €17.6 million for Waterford's local and regional roads programme announced earlier this week. This is my first opportunity to address the issue. This funding will make a significant difference within my county. The main topic I would like to discuss is the welcome decision of the Supreme Court yesterday to uphold the decision of the High Court to grant permission to Glanbia for a €140 million cheese processing plant in Waterford Port…

These are very important changes that we are seeking to introduce. This will play a critical role in us being able to achieve our climate targets. I share the frustration the Minister of State clearly has in terms of the time it takes to get things done. In fairness, we probably are moving at the pace allowable under the process. For other projects - I do not want to mention roads - such as house building, a process has to be gone through. Appeals can be made to An Bord Pleanála and there can be judicial reviews. I…

I welcome the regulations before us on the exemption of commercial properties from the requirement to go through an often lengthy planning process to be converted into productive residential units for individuals and families. I assure Senator Higgins that this was subject to ample discussion at last Thursday's meeting of the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, where the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, was present and all members of the committee present contributed on it. I have campaigned…

I welcome the Minister of State to the House and thank him for taking this Commencement matter. I am disappointed the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, is not here to take this Commencement matter but, that being said, I am sure the Minister of State has a response from the Department. If I require further information, I hope it will be forthcoming. St. Paul's Community College is the only second level co-educational and multi-denominational school in Waterford city. In the past three years, it has seen strong …

I thank the Minister of State for the reply, which references the permanent accommodation and outlines what is required going forward to facilitate the 1,000 enrolments projected. However, there is also an immediate need and so both needs require to be met in knowledge of the other. Putting in place the interim accommodation I outlined in my initial contribution may have an impact on the wider project outlined by the Minister of State in terms of the reply from the Department. The immediate need requires to be fina…

I would like to raise the issue of sports capital funding. There is much speculation as to when an announcement will ultimately be made on it. The announcement of it was moved to the new year. We have been able to maximise the level of funding available to sports clubs as a result of that. Therefore, it was a welcome move. Clubs are contacting me, as I am sure they are contracting every Member, weekly seeking an update on their sports capital application. There are issues in terms of drawdown under previous applica…

In July 2020, the board of Waterford Airport made an application to lengthen the runway by 491 m at the northern end, and 363 m to the southern end, and to widen it from 30 m to 45 m, which would facilitate the landing of Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 aircraft. It is an essential component to the future development of the airport. The Government also decided at Cabinet to support this with €5 million in capital support from the State, to be matched by €5 million in private investment and €2 million from the local auth…

In line with the Order of Business agreed by the House I propose a suspension of the House until 2.45 p.m.

I propose to share time with Senator Ward.

I question the wisdom of having such a motion on the Order Paper. It creates a dangerous precedent that this House can be used to threaten and undermine the integrity of the public procurement process. Senator Craughwell should know better than to be looking for commercially sensitive documentation during a tender process. He also made some very serious allegations both on the record of this House just now and also in an email to all Members a short time ago when he said, "I believe that at best this business case …

I did not-----

Did the PQQ mention bases?

May I ask the Senator a question?

May I ask the Senator a question?

Did the PQQ mention bases?

I am sorry. The question-----

-----was whether it mentioned bases.

Clearly, the answer is "No".